R1100R Seat latch

[tattube]

I was hoping to do some maintenance on the R11 this winter but ran into a snag with removing the riders seat. I've checked both Clymers and factory manuals and couldn't find a decent breakdown of the latch mechanism.
I can hear the shaft turn along with the key, but the seat is stuck. I've tried everything (wiggling, jiggling, pushing, pulling) short of a pry bar with no luck.
Has anyone out there encountered this problem and gotten the seat off without damage?

[Hoorenga2]

I don't think I can offer much help but the seat on my R1100RT is the same way. The key goes in the back near the tail light and is often hard to turn. The release mechanism is always a little stiff and doesn't want to release right away. I often have to jiggle the key and use some choice swear words to get it to release. I think I'll have a closer look at it and maybe put some lubricant on the moving parts. It seems to work more easily if I don't have a "wad" of keys to get in the way when I am turning the BMW key. If you have a lot of keys on your key ring the other keys can keep you from getting a full turn and it won't release.

Doug

[cruisin]

The latch on my RT seat had similar symptoms a few years back. It was difficult to get it to release and the key also seemed difficult to turn. I'd learned from our facility lock-smiths to never use anything for lubricant except dry graphite; otherwise they will gum up and only get more difficult to turn. Small tubes can purchased at most automotive stores and at Wally World. I lubed mine as directed by those guys and then took a closer look under the seat. I reached back and turned the key while watching the mechanism. That's when I spotted what was likely the real and predominant problem. The plastic near the mechanism was broken and allowing the whole deal to rotate including the latch. I have attached a picture showing a stainless steel band that I fabricated from 14ga material and bolted in place after gluing the broken parts back together with some two-component epoxy. Red arrows point to approximate point of breaks on each side. Green circles surround small indentations made with a punch so the bracket "grabs" the plastic and keeps it from rotating. Don't know if this is actually the problem you are having, but maybe it will help someone.

[tattube]

I don't think I can offer much help but the seat on my R1100RT is the same way. The key goes in the back near the tail light and is often hard to turn. The release mechanism is always a little stiff and doesn't want to release right away. I often have to jiggle the key and use some choice swear words to get it to release. I think I'll have a closer look at it and maybe put some lubricant on the moving parts. It seems to work more easily if I don't have a "wad" of keys to get in the way when I am turning the BMW key. If you have a lot of keys on your key ring the other keys can keep you from getting a full turn and it won't release.

Doug

I have no trouble turning the key. I suspect broken parts under seat.
I also think that maybe the RT and R seats have different seat mounts.

[tattube]

The latch on my RT seat had similar symptoms a few years back. It was difficult to get it to release and the key also seemed difficult to turn. I'd learned from our facility lock-smiths to never use anything for lubricant except dry graphite; otherwise they will gum up and only get more difficult to turn. Small tubes can purchased at most automotive stores and at Wally World. I lubed mine as directed by those guys and then took a closer look under the seat. I reached back and turned the key while watching the mechanism. That's when I spotted what was likely the real and predominant problem. The plastic near the mechanism was broken and allowing the whole deal to rotate including the latch. I have attached a picture showing a stainless steel band that I fabricated from 14ga material and bolted in place after gluing the broken parts back together with some two-component epoxy. Red arrows point to approximate point of breaks on each side. Green circles surround small indentations made with a punch so the bracket "grabs" the plastic and keeps it from rotating. Don't know if this is actually the problem you are having, but maybe it will help someone.


Looks like your seat is hinged on the right side. I have 2 seats. The key is used to unlock the front seat and remove it, also at this point the passenger seat is able to be removed

[58058D]

Alan,
From what I remember with a less severe problem with my wife's 96R, there is what I remember to be a plastic 'splined' shaft running from the key mechanism to the release mechanism in the middle under the rider's seat. Hers seemed to be more difficult to turn after we put some spacers under the front to reduce the tendancy to slide forward under braking. I sounds like you may be right on the broken parts. Not sure how to remove the seat without that shaft being attached.

[cruisin]

Looks like your seat is hinged on the right side. I have 2 seats. The key is used to unlock the front seat and remove it, also at this point the passenger seat is able to be removed

Actually the RT seats are also two pieces with the rear one being removed first by way of a locking mechanism that is actuated by a key under the taillight. I wasn't sure of the set-up on the R so just threw out my fix in case it might help.

[j-budimlya]

the R1100R seat is two piece, the front piece is removed first. YOu need to press down on the center of the rear edge of the front seat; while you are turning the key to the right(cloclwise) to get the mechanism to release.

this can require a strong pressure on the center of the rear edge of the front seat to get the seat latch to release. do not turn the key until you have pressured the back edge of the front seat.....

this works for my r1100r '95.....its been tough to get to release for its whole life.

[tattube]

Alan,
From what I remember with a less severe problem with my wife's 96R, there is what I remember to be a plastic 'splined' shaft running from the key mechanism to the release mechanism in the middle under the rider's seat. Hers seemed to be more difficult to turn after we put some spacers under the front to reduce the tendancy to slide forward under braking. I sounds like you may be right on the broken parts. Not sure how to remove the seat without that shaft being attached.

Jim
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the latch broke/fell off the shaft. I feel helpless without a clear print of the mechanism, so I'll head over to my local beemer shop and hope he's got a working model I can look at. and get an idea of what needs to be pushed/pulled and where.

[tattube]

the R1100R seat is two piece, the front piece is removed first. YOu need to press down on the center of the rear edge of the front seat; while you are turning the key to the right(cloclwise) to get the mechanism to release.

this can require a strong pressure on the center of the rear edge of the front seat to get the seat latch to release. do not turn the key until you have pressured the back edge of the front seat.....

this works for my r1100r '95.....its been tough to get to release for its whole life.

Jim
I've already tried that, with no luck. I'll get a buddy of mine over here and maybe the extra push will do the trick.
Thanks